Crosses and flowers adorn the site where the Clouse family was killed. The other driver is hospitalized.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

Crosses and flowers adorn the site where the Clouse family was...

Image 2 of 2

A family of four — Jennifer Clouse; her husband, Nathan, and their children, Bailey, 8, and Jordan, 6 — died early Saturday in a collision described by one official as among the worst crashes the area has ever seen.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office have been trying to piece together whether the collision was the result of criminal conduct or road conditions. Investigators found no sign of skid marks.

One thing that the assistant district attorney, Warren Diepraam, is certain about is that this is the worst accident he's seen of the thousand he's investigated. The impact after Golden lost control of his 2003 Dodge Ram pickup and veered into the path of the Volkswagen was so powerful that it detached the Jetta's engine and tossed it onto the road, where it was hit by two other vehicles.

Only one other Montgomery County wreck, which occurred in 2009 on Texas 249, has been deadlier. In that one, five died, including four from the same family, while en route to a birthday party. Their vehicle was crushed by another driven by 23-year-old Brandon Lee Ferguson, who had been racing at speeds over 100 mph. He was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

No texting, no alcohol

In this latest crash, DPS Sgt. Derek Leitner has determined that neither vehicle was racing and both were traveling about the same speed.

Also, he has reviewed cellphone records and determined nobody was texting or using them.

No alcohol was found in Golden's system based on blood tests done at the hospital, but authorities are still awaiting toxicology reports that check for drugs.

One critical factor has been verified: The road was very slick. As a result of the drought, oily residue had collected and combined with a misty rain, making the road very slippery, Leitner said.

Diepraam said he was aware of "a few" other fatalities along this same quarter-mile stretch of Texas 105. "It's been known as a dangerous intersection," he said.

He notes the road has no protective barrier separating the two-way traffic where the speed limit is 60 mph. Also, a curve is on an incline.

Flowered crosses

Crosses for other traffic fatalities fall along this stretch of Texas 105, joined by flowered ones placed for the Clouse family, who lived in Cleveland.

Jennifer Clouse had been driving her husband to his mechanic job where he worked on industrial centrifuges, while Golden was headed for his job as a mechanic for a trucking company, authorities said.

"Everybody is broken-hearted by such loss," said Dorothy McCreight, spokeswoman for Tarkington Primary where the Clouse children attended first and third grades.

Jessica Moore, who once taught the young girl, described her as a "friend to everyone she met," recalling how she would give her brother a hug whenever she saw him. Moore still keeps a picture that includes the girl's handprints in which she expresses her love for her teacher.

Nathan Clouse's aunt, Sarah Chunn, described the brother as a "spitfire" who was "fascinated by everything and always up for a challenge."

Jennifer Clouse was known to be not only loving of children but also animals. She worked as a veterinarian's technician for seven years and raised different critters, including a ferret that lives there now.

Golden was single and his family could not be reached for comment.

The funeral for the Clouse family is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pace Stancil Funeral chapel in Cleveland.

Money can be donated for the family of four at gofundme.com/clousefamily.